Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Other animals

PawTracks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Why do guinea pigs chatter their teeth? It’s not a good thing

Sounds guinea pigs make with their teeth and what each means

Rebekkah Adams
By

Anyone who adopts a rodent should know they’ll be overwhelmed by the teeth. Guinea pigs in particular have lots of dental needs and often use their chompers to communicate as well. Sadly, you won’t see a happy piggy smile, so instead, you’ll have to spend some time studying your piggy to decipher the mouth movements.

Oral health can also indicate bigger issues, which means you should keep a close eye on those pearly whites when you hear your pet grind, chatter, bare, or click them. So why do guinea pigs chatter their teeth? There are a few reasons, but none of them are particularly good.

Related Videos
Guinea pig bares her teeth

What sounds do guinea pigs make with their teeth?

Guinea pigs make more than 10 different noises, including wheeking and chirping. Each signals something unique, so pay close attention to exactly what your animal does and says.  Your pet will use their teeth to show you they’re frustrated or hurt with three special sounds. Here’s how to tell them apart. 

Hissing

You may hear a hiss-like noise come from your cavy, just like a cat, and it says something similar too. Usually, this means “leave me alone” or “I’m annoyed.” Treat it as a sign to give your pet a little space. They could be sick of playing but have no other way to communicate those frustrations (unfortunately, they likely won’t come out and tell you plainly). Don’t go away forever though — these little guys have short memories and they’ll want you back at their side in no time. But do take it as a serious sign of discomfort. In fact, sometimes the hiss precedes a bite, so try to get yourself clear quickly before they make a lunge for you.

Grinding

Persistent teeth grinding typically has a physical cause rather than an emotional one, and a trip to the vet may be in order. Sometimes guineas grind their teeth when in pain, just as you might grit yours when ripping off a Band-Aid. As prey animals, they’re designed to hide injury and illness, so a small sign like this could be all you get to determine that something is up. Alternatively, it might be the teeth themselves that are causing the issue.

Remember, many small pets have fangs that never stop growing and frequently need attention. Have your animal doctor do a full dental workup to spot any issues quickly and correct them in time. If that’s not the problem, the grinding likely signals frustration, similar to the hiss.

Chattering

You will most commonly see this sign when you introduce a new pet into the home and your original inhabitant feels the need to show a display of dominance. Unfortunately, a fight might be brewing, and you should separate the pair while they both calm down, then try again. Always carefully add a new member to the group with lots of check-ins along the way. If no new piggies have joined and yours distinctly makes this noise, you might be the problem (don’t take it personally). Typically, you’ll want to back off and return your guinea pig to the cage, though sometimes you’ll get a teeth-chatter when you’re in the middle of something annoying yet essential, such as grooming.

Lastly, if you have any brand-new babies in the house, Mama will definitely bare and chatter her teeth at you — wouldn’t you if a giant predator approached? Steer clear when she does. Trust us, she means business.

Guinea pigs sit together in their hay

Final thoughts on teeth chattering

While teeth chattering certainly can mean that your guinea pig needs a vet, not all dental communication is equal. Try to figure out first which of the three mouth noises she’s making and what it might be in response to. Oftentimes, you’ll notice pretty quickly what’s upsetting your piggy just by looking at their surroundings and stimuli. Even if no chattering occurs, you need to consistently check their teeth and provide extra hay so they can naturally grind them down to the proper size.

Hay will head off most mouth issues at the pass. Lastly, if you hear constant teeth chattering and fighting between two specific animals, it could be time to separate them. Think about setting up different cage spaces for the instigators so no one gets hurt — and you get some peace and quiet.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Is my rabbit pregnant? 5 telltale signs you should know
Look for these signs to confirm your rabbit will soon have babies
Baby rabbit being held by owner

What's better than one pet rabbit? An entire litter of bunnies (as long as you're prepared for them, of course). If you've been wondering, "Is my rabbit pregnant?" now is the time to find out for sure. After all, you don't want to be caught unaware and suddenly have a whole new colony of animals in your hutch.

Sometimes, lady bunnies can take on the behaviors of expectant mamas, but it's actually a false pregnancy. The best way to find out if your rabbit is pregnant is to take her to the vet and have them confirm it. However, when you're figuring it out herself, these are the signs that a rabbit is pregnant. If you see these behaviors, be sure to call your animal doctor.

Read more
Why is my hamster shaking? When pet parents should be worried
Here are the reasons why your hamster might be shaking and this is what you should do about it
Girl looks at her pet hamster

It's certainly a terrifying sight to find your hamster shaking. Just as it would sound the alarm if a human were shivering uncontrollably, so, too, should you leap into action with your pet. However, it can be tricky to nail down the exact cause, and a trip to the vet won't hurt if you don't spot an immediate explanation. While illness does lead to the shakes at times, you'll want to look into a few more of the mundane triggers first to rule that out. When you wonder, "Why is my hamster shaking?" look at these options to determine the issue.

Why is my hamster sitting still and shaking?
No one reason applies in every case, so you need to do a bit of detective work. We'll start with the most common reasons — which are also the least scary.
He's frightened
Lots of times when hamsters shake, it's from fear. Things that don't look (or smell) scary to you could set your hamster off with seemingly no notice. Try to perceive the world through the eyes of a small pet to figure out what's troubling him. For example, a dog or cat scent could send him into panic mode even as you struggle to perceive it. Those are his predators! Remove the offending object or beastie and see if he returns to normal.
He went into hibernation
If you can cross fear off the list, think next to the temperature of the room. In the wild, hamsters hibernate, and they'll immediately slip into that mode when it gets too chilly. You most likely don't want your hamster to go down for a long sleep, and it probably isn't safe for him to remain inactive. Maintain a consistent temperature in the room and include a thermometer in or right next to the cage. Select a good area of the house as well that doesn't have too many drafts and isn't too close to a radiator. If you do walk into a freezing room and find your little guy zoned out, return the temp to normal (slowly) to spark him out of his hibernation. There will almost certainly be some shaking during this process, but it's not a concern. Once he gets back to normal, it'll stop. If it doesn't, that means something else is going on. 
It's a medical condition
Hamsters get colds — sometimes lots of them. Examine his physical symptoms aside from the shaking to check for the sniffles. Seriously, he might sneeze and cough and get a runny nose just like you would. While hamster sniffles are a bit cute, the little guys can actually die from colds or other infections. Don't just check his sweet face, though; you also want to monitor his backside and spot diarrhea or other stomach problems quickly (especially wet tail, which kills hamsters in less than 48 hours). The shaking could stem from diabetes, nervous system disorders, or stroke. Pay close attention to all the symptoms as a whole to narrow it down.

Read more
Are ducks good pets? 8 things to consider when thinking of adopting these cute feathered friends
Cute duckling sits in the yard

Many have yearned for an ugly adorable duckling to call their own, but don't dive into this journey without some planning first. Under the right circumstances, ducks make great pets — they're cuddly, they're very intelligent, and they're social. These birds specifically love to be part of a group, sometimes called a raft, and will bond with both you and one another. As with many pets though, owning a duck comes with a list of good (and not-so-good) things to consider before you gather your flock.

Are ducks good pets? Here's what you need to know
As with all pets, it depends on what you're looking for. Be mindful of their need for space, water, outdoors, companionship, and protection. Ducks are not for everyone but will add a spunky sense of fun to the right home. Think about these eight things before getting ducks.
They live outdoors
Rule number one: Your pet duckling must live outside. They just can't be happy in any type of fully indoor enclosure, though you will want to provide some respite from the elements. Only dabble with ducks if you can secure sufficient outdoor space for them — free from predators, including dogs and cats who might mistake your cute and snuggly pet for a meal.
They need a house with a pool
Many folks keep their pet ducks in a shed or doghouse to provide a perfect cozy spot for them. Include a comfy straw bed and protection from wind. Of course, ducks need a pool for swimming, too. A pond or kiddie pool will do well, depending on how big your flock is. Ducklings can't fly, so you don't have to worry about them escaping, but they won't thrive unless they have ample space. Fencing around your yard will help keep pets in and predators out.

Read more